Welcome Mariners, to the 2021 spring edition of the Marina update. The last boating year is now behind us and certainly brought many unique challenges to the community and the Port of Bremerton marinas. We had to respond to the year much differently than any previous year in order to ensure we could meet all of the requirements to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Local waterfront events and celebrations conducted by various organizations are in flux this year, as some are occurring, and others are in a tentative status at this time.  The 2021 Marina Events form is regularly updated as new information is provided: https://www.portofbremerton.org/2021-marina-events-list

In 2020, the marina offices were closed due to Governor Inslee’s phased approach for reopening and providing services. But the Port of Bremerton marinas are now open and operating with a revised level of service to follow the directives from the State and County Health Departments while working towards providing a safe facility for all stakeholders and Port staff.

The Port of Bremerton is committed to protecting our employees, their families, our tenants, and local citizens. Marina offices are planned to be open to the public by Memorial Weekend.  Additional provisions related to COVID include restrictions on public gatherings subject to the most recent Governor’s orders and shuttles and valet parking will not be operating until a later phase. Vessel pump-outs will only be conducted in an attended status. Marina restrooms and laundry facilities remain open and are being cleaned and disinfected multiple times daily.  

For additional information related to the statewide impacts of COVID-19, please refer to the Washington State Department of Health: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus

Kitsap Public Health District: https://kitsappublichealth.org/CommunityHealth/CoronaVirus.php

Port of Bremerton marina office may be reached at 360-373-1035 or at moorage@portofbremerton.org

The USS Turner Joy reopened for visitors on Saturday, March 27. The historic vessel and museum had been closed due to COVID for more than a year. With Kitsap County’s recent Phase transition of the Washington-State Reopening Plan, the ship became eligible to reopen with certain restrictions including mandatory masks, social distancing, and an established tour route. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. A return to the regular summer hours will be assessed moving forward.

The USS Turner Joy website https://ussturnerjoy.org/ and social media updates on their Facebook page are points of reference for more information & updates.

The Port of Bremerton will be submitting a number of vessels to be up for public auction, beginning April 6 and ending on April 12, 2021. The auction includes vessels with unpaid moorage, abandoned, and derelict vessels secured pursuant to RCW 53.08 and RCW 79.100. 

The auction will be conducted online in partnership with Stokes Auctioneers. Additional information can be located at: https://www.portofbremerton.org/boat-auction

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary, under the Department of Homeland Security, is in charge of administering the National Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program. They are charged with ensuring the public has a safe, secure, and enjoyable recreational boating experience by implementing programs designed to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage while cooperating with environmental and national security efforts. 

The Port Orchard Marina and the Bremerton Marina were issued certificates and commended for their efforts in following the safety measures, promoting the boating safety program, and assisting in education of boater safety. 

Note: Children age 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult and USCG requires children under 12 to wear PFDs while on small boats and when in an open cockpit. Loaner PFDs are available in a variety of sizes at our office. More information on the US Coast Guard Auxilary National Recreational Boating Safety Program may be found online at: http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=B-DEPT

The Port Orchard Marina Guest Activity Shelter replacement project began construction in October 2020 and was recently completed. The guest activity shelter includes removable enclosures that allow the facility to be open during the summer and to provide weather protection during inclement periods. The replacement structure provides a much more beautiful and robust structure that will better weather the northwest marine climate and improves the activity area for the boating public.

SAFE Security is patrolling the Marina grounds, parking, and docks after hours. Please don’t be surprised if security personnel may approach you or other tenants in the parking area or out on the docks during the course of the evening. Marina office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week and marina staff are not available after hours. Please call 911 for any emergencies.

In an effort to better serve our customers, we are switching to a new laundry vendor for better service and equipment. There may be a short period of time during the transition where laundry service may be impacted. We will continue to keep you informed during the process.

Effective July 1, 2021, the Port of Bremerton marina moorage will be including rate increases. The last change to marina moorage rates occurred in 2017. The demand for marina moorage has increased each year and the cost of equipment, materials, and items necessary for operation has steadily increased.

The previous 2017 marina rates have not accommodated those changes. The 2021 marina rates incorporate a modest increase to moorage at both marinas but acknowledge the current construction impacts and parking challenges at the Bremerton Marina. Certain administrative fees and deposits have also been streamlined for efficiency.  Regular review of marina moorage rates reflects the cost of providing services, ensuring that operations can continue, and allowing for new improvements to be made to the marina facilities.

The Marina Square project, a $130 million housing development on the Bremerton waterfront, just resumed construction after a nine-month shutdown. The two-tower project was initially planned to include residential apartments and a hotel built over the three-story parking garage. The second tower has been redesigned as short-term workforce housing. The Bremerton Marina will have 75 parking spaces located within the project parking garage for marina tenants. Construction is estimated to take between 16 and 18 months, with an expected opening date in spring 2022. 

This Kitsap Sun article has more information: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2021/02/01/construction-resumes-130-million-marina-square-project-downtown/4317382001/

The City of Bremerton owns and manages the public boardwalk adjacent to the Bremerton Marina.  The City has recently closed the public boardwalk to public vehicles and will be enforcing their no-parking regulations so we have been working with the City for alternatives to provide marina tenants additional loading and unloading parking options.  As progress is made in those endeavors, marina tenants will be informed of additional parking updates. 

For any questions or information related to Bremerton boardwalk or parking issues, please contact Melinda Monroe, with the City of Bremerton at melinda.monroe@ci.bremerton.wa.us 

The Port Orchard Marina's breakwater is currently 47-years old and near the end of its physical lifespan so we are in the process of replacing it. We have contracted with PND Engineers to design and permit the breakwater's replacement; this is usually a two-year process for these types of saltwater marine projects. The early part of 2021 included conducting survey work and geotechnical studies required for the project design.  

As part of the design process, a wake/wave study of the breakwater was conducted in March.  We coordinated with Kitsap Transit for the study, and they ran various ferry vessel types during the study period while ferry captains kept logs of vessel speeds during arrival and departure. The data collected allows a new breakwater design to specifically address and mitigate the regular ferry wake experienced at the Port Orchard Marina. We're looking forward to the new breakwater and all that it'll provide the public with!